CDG: CDMA Dominant Tech in N. America
August 12, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
Code division multiple access (CDMA) technology continues to be the dominant technology in North America with 140 million cdmaOne and CDMA2000 subscribers in the region, according to the CDMA Development Group (CDG).
In North America, the CDMA market share is 51% and, as of March 2008, represents 31% of total CDMA subscribership worldwide, said the CDG.
CDMA2000's 17% compound average growth rate is being driven by widespread adoption of 1x evolution-data optimized (EV-DO) Revision A (Rev. A) and advanced wireless broadband services, said the CDG.
The success of CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev. A is mirroring the growth being seen worldwide in both developed and emerging markets, said the CDG. Forty-two operators deployed Rev. A and another 34 are in the process of upgrading.
In North America, 12 of 45 CDMA2000 operators deployed Rev. A, while 10 operators are in the process of deploying, said the CDG.
There are more than 53 million CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Release 0 (Rel. 0) and Rev. A subscribers in North America as of March 2008, a 74% increase year-over-year from 2007, which represents 54% of the 97 million worldwide EV-DO subscribers, said the CDG.
U.S. operators continue to report increases in data revenue from CDMA2000 networks, said the CDG. They introduced several new technologies and services, including mobile TV, Push-to-X, megapixel photo and music downloads, 3D multiplayer gaming and other downloadable applications.
The U.S. became a valuable market in terms of mobile data service revenue in 2008, accounting for $24.5 billion and surpassing Japan, which accounted for $23.5 billion in 2007, said the CDG.
KDDI, Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless are among the top six carriers worldwide in terms of generating wireless data revenue, said the CDG. Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless are both reporting more than $11 in average data revenue per user or around 20% of their total revenue.
CDMA2000 Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) launched in the U.S. this year with Cricket and MetroPCS, while Canada is in the process of auctioning its AWS spectrum to incumbent and new operators, said the CDG.
Source: CDMA Development Group (CDG).